Apricot tree, ‘F168 cv’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apricot tree is disclosed and which is mature for harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington about August 29 th .

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apricot tree, (Prunus armeniaca L.) and which has been denominated varietally as ‘F168 cv’ hereinafter, and more specifically to a new apricot tree variety which is characterized as to novelty by bearing medium sized attractively colored fruit which are ripe for harvesting and shipment about six weeks later than the harvesting dates for more common apricot varieties such as “Perfection” and “Moorpark” both of which are unpatented when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The present variety of apricot tree was originated by me from a cross which I conducted in 1987 between the unpatented apricot varieties “Sundrop” (female parent) with a late “Moorpark (male parent).” I conducted this cross at my orchard which is located in Central Otago, New Zealand. The present variety showed noteworthy characteristics and was selected for further evaluation. In 1995, budwood of the present variety was sent to the quarantine facility, IR-2, at Prosser, Wash. for further virus testing. Subsequently, virus-free material was released from the same facility in 1999, and test trees were grafted and subsequently planted in a test orchard which is located near Orondo, Wash. Still further, 30 third generation trees were planted in the same test orchard in Orondo, Wash. in 2002. The original test trees planted in 1999, and the subsequent third generation trees have been continually observed and the fruit thereof have been compared and contrasted with that of the original tree. It has been determined that the characteristics of the present tree are true to the original selection.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new variety of apricot tree, ‘F168 cv’ is characterized as to novelty, and is otherwise deemed noteworthy by producing fruit which ripen for commercial harvesting and shipment about August 29^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing in Orondo, Wash. Still further, the present variety produces a semi-clingstone fruit having a firm, crisp flesh texture at commercial maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of various aspects of the present plant. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in color representations of this type. Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit of the present tree may, or may not be, accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates as provided by the Munsell Book of Color, and the other general color descriptions as provided for hereinafter.

FIG. 1 depicts the bloom characteristics of the present variety of apricot tree as seen on Apr. 3, 2003 at the test orchard referenced above.

FIG. 2 illustrates the fruit of the present variety of apricot tree at a stage of development where it is sufficiently matured for harvesting and shipment.

FIG. 3 illustrates several mature fruit of the present variety and several other fruit which have been dissected in the longitudinal and transverse planes, and which shows the flesh and stone characteristics thereof.

FIG. 4 shows the dorsal and ventral surfaces of mature leaves of the new apricot tree variety.

FIG. 5 illustrates the characteristics of both first, second and third year wood currently growing on a test tree.

FIG. 6 shows the growing habit of a test tree as presently growing during the 2003 growing season.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of apricot tree, the following has been observed during the 2003 growing season under the ecological conditions prevailing in a test orchard which is located near Orondo, Wash. All major color code designations are by reference to the Munsell book of Color. Common color names are also used occasionally.

TREE

-   Tree size: Considered average. Fifth leaf trees (five years in the     field) have a height of about 3 meters; and a width of about 3     meters. -   Productivity: Considered moderate. This characteristic is not     particularly distinctive of the present variety, however. -   Vigor: Considered vigorous. The present variety shows about 1 to     about 1.5 meters of annual growth. All test trees grown at the     experimental orchard, which is located at Orondo, Wash., were     grafted onto “Manchurian” (unpatented) apricot rootstock. -   Growing habit: Considered spreading. -   Chilling requirement: The chilling requirement of the present     variety appears to be similar to other common commercial apricot     varieties, based upon the observations of these trees as grown in     the state of Washington. Actual chilling requirements of the subject     tree have not been determined, however. -   Regularity of bearing: Regular and uniform.

TRUNK

-   Size: Considered average for this variety. The present tree was     about 5 cm. in diameter when measured at a distance of about 0.3     meters from the surface of the ground. This measurement was taken on     third-leaf trees. -   Bark color: Yellow-brown on 3 year old wood (7.5 YR 5/10). -   Bark lenticels:     -   -   Color.—Light tan (7.5 YR 7/4). -   Bark lenticels:     -   -   Size.—About 5 mm. long, and about 1 mm. wide. -   Bark lenticels:     -   -   Density.—Typically 2 per square cm.

BRANCHES

-   Growth habit: Generally considered typical of most apricot trees,     that is, spreading, and normally having new, vigorous, vertically     oriented shoots. -   Bark color:     -   -   New growth.—Green (2.5 GY 4/6) and later becoming a shade of             purple (7.5 R 3/6) with increasing senescence. Bark color at             full maturity is brown (7.5 YR 4/4). -   Pubescence: Glabrous. -   Bark lenticels:     -   -   Numbers.—Numerous, typically 8 to about 10 lenticels are             observed per square cm. -   Bark lenticels:     -   -   Shape.—Considered round to oblong, and having a dimension of             about 1 to about 5 mm. -   Lenticels:     -   -   Color.—Tan (10 YR 7/4). -   Internodes:     -   -   Length.—Considered average and about 1.5 to about 2 cm. when             measured on vigorous, current season shoots.

LEAVES

-   Leaf size:     -   -   Generally.—Considered average. Mature leaves have a length             dimension of about 7.8 cm.; and a width dimension of about             7.2 cm. -   Leaf form: Generally considered to be a typical arpicot leaf. In     this regard, the leaf appears somewhat rounded, and having an     acuminate tip. -   Leaf margin:     -   -   Form.—Finely to coarsely crenate. Approximately 5 crenations             are found per cm. -   Leaf color:     -   -   Dorsal surface.—Dark green (5 GY 4/4). -   Leaf color:     -   -   Ventral surface.—Light green (5 GY 6/4). -   Leaf color:     -   -   Mid vein.—Green (2.5 GY 7/6). -   Leaf glandular characteristics: Typically 4 to about 7 round glands     appear on the dorsal facing surface. -   Leaf petiole:     -   -   Size.—Considered average for the variety, and having a             length dimension of about 22 mm.; and a thickness dimension             of about 1.5 mm. -   Leaf petiole:     -   -   Color.—Variable, and having a red color (7.5 R 2.8) on the             dorsal surface; and a ventral color which varies from red to             green (7.5 R 2/8 to 2.5 GY 6/4). -   Mid-vein thickness: Average, about 1.5 mm. -   Leaf blade:     -   -   Shape.—Appears typical for an apricot tree, that is, having             an acuminate tip, and a base which may be acute to straight.             About 8 coarsely crenate serrations appear per cm.

FLOWER

-   Fertility: It is unknown whether the variety is self-compatible. -   Time of bloom: Date of full bloom was observed on Mar. 23, 2003     under the prevailing ecological conditions existing near Orondo,     Wash. First Bloom was observed on Mar. 19, 2003. Petal fall was     observed on Mar. 31, 2003. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Size.—Dormant flower buds have a length dimension of about             3.5 mm.; and a width dimension of about 1.5 mm. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Color.—At the dormant stage, the flower buds are brown (2.5             YR 2/4). -   Size of flower: On average, about 4.5 cm. in diameter at full bloom. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Length.—About 20 mm. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Width.—About 14 mm. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Color.—White when fully open; and light pink (2.5 R 9/2) at             the popcorn stage. -   Sepals:     -   -   Color.—Bright red (5 R 4/14). -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—About 23 are found per flower. -   Stamens:     -   -   Length.—About 18 mm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Color.—Yellow (2.5 Y 8.14). -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Considered round and oblong. -   Pistil:     -   -   Length.—About 15 mm. -   Stigma:     -   -   Length.—About 1 mm.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Generally, the fruit produced by the     present variety of apricot tree is described as it will be found at     full commercial maturity. In this regard, the fruit of the present     variety was ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment under the     ecological conditions prevailing near Orondo, Wash. on Aug.     29, 2003. This harvesting date is at least six weeks later than     other common mid-season varieties such as “Perfection”, and     “Moorpark” both of which are unpatented, at the same geographical     location. -   Fruit size: Considered medium for the species. The average weight of     the harvested fruit was about 60 grams. -   Fruit form: Generally glabrous and having a diameter of about 45 mm. -   Stem attachment:     -   -   Generally.—Considered strong. The stem commonly remains with             the fruit rather than pulling out as is typically the             situation for most apricot varieties. It was observed that             the flesh of the present variety of apricot tree does not             tear when it's picked. -   Stem cavity:     -   -   Size.—About 3 mm. deep; and about 15 mm. wide. -   Suture:     -   -   Shape.—Shallow and typically having a depth of less than             about 1 mm. -   Skin thickness: Considered thin, tender and crisp. -   Skin texture: Smooth, and having a fine pubescence. -   Blush color: Light red (7.5 R 5/12). The blush appears on about 25%     of the fruit harvested. -   Ground color: Light orange (7.5 YR 8/10 ). Some greenish overtones     appear on fruit that is not completely ripe. -   Tendency to crack: Not observed. -   Flesh color: Considered bright orange (5 YR 7/14). -   Juice production: Considered very juicy. -   Flesh flavor: Considered sweet, and mildly acidic. -   Soluble solids: About 18% at full commercial maturity. -   Aroma: Typical for the species. -   Flesh texture: Relatively firm and somewhat crisp at full commercial     maturity. -   Fibers: Not observed. -   Ripening characteristics: Uniform and considered quite firm at full     commercial maturity. -   Eating quality: Considered excellent.

STONE

-   Attachment: Generally considered to be a semi-clingstone. Some flesh     clings to the pit even at full commercial maturity. -   Fibers: Not observed. -   Stone size:     -   -   Length.—About 30 mm. -   Stone size:     -   -   Width.—About 21 mm. -   Stone thickness: About 13 mm. -   Stone form: Ovoid. -   Stone:     -   -   Base.—Rounded. -   Apex shape: Blunt and rounded. -   Stone side-shape: Considered equal. -   Stone ridges: Typically, three ridges appear. They are medium in     size and have a sharp texture. -   Stone surface texture: Average, considered smooth and somewhat dull     in appearance. -   Stone color: When the stone is dry it has a dark brown color (5 YR     4/4). -   Pit color: Light tan (7.5 YR 7/6). -   Pit:     -   -   Flavor.—The pit has a bitter almond flavor. The pits have a             hard shell. -   Intended use: The present variety appears to be useful for the     commercial, fresh market. -   Disease and insect resistance: No susceptibilities were noted. -   Keeping quality: Considered excellent. The fruit of the present     variety of apricot tree has been kept up to 4 weeks in cold storage     at a temperature of 33 degrees F.

Although the new variety of apricot tree possesses the described characteristics as a result of the growing conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington, it is to be understood that variations in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected. 

1. A new and distinct variety of apricot tree substantially as illustrated and described, and which produces fruit which are mature for harvesting and shipment about August 29^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington and which further has an attractive skin coloration, and which produces a firm, semi-free stone fruit at full commercial maturity. 